U.S. patent application number 12/156089 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-25 for system and method for hosting combined online and live auctions.
This patent application is currently assigned to WORLDWIDE FARM EQUIPMENT AUCTIONS.COM LTD.. Invention is credited to Bob Francis, Roe Peterson, Zeljko Stefanovic.
Application Number | 20080235115 12/156089 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24793426 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080235115 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stefanovic; Zeljko ; et
al. |
September 25, 2008 |
System and method for hosting combined online and live auctions
Abstract
A system for the hosting of a combined auction, with live
bidders in physical presence at the auction site as well as online
bidders being able to view the auction and bid over the Internet.
Auction and bid processing are centralized on a central control
system. A remote module is used at the actual physical site of the
auction and provides site data to the central control system for
handling and distribution to bidders. The technical requirements at
the actual auction site are minimized by the centralization of the
majority of auction processing, and high-speed network connectivity
requirements between the auction site and the central processing
system are minimized.
Inventors: |
Stefanovic; Zeljko; (Moose
Jaw, CA) ; Peterson; Roe; (Regina, CA) ;
Francis; Bob; (Moose Jaw, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROPES & GRAY LLP
PATENT DOCKETING 39/361, 1211 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036-8704
US
|
Assignee: |
WORLDWIDE FARM EQUIPMENT
AUCTIONS.COM LTD.
|
Family ID: |
24793426 |
Appl. No.: |
12/156089 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11177154 |
Jul 7, 2005 |
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12156089 |
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09695539 |
Oct 24, 2000 |
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11177154 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0601 20130101;
G06Q 40/04 20130101; G06Q 30/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/27 ;
705/26 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for the conduct of an auction from a physical
location allowing for the participation of both live bidders and
online bidders, said apparatus comprising: a) an auction web site
system including auction software components; b) at least one
bidder computer, each bidder computer configured to record online
bids from an online bidder and able to communicate the details of
the online bid with the auction web site system; and c) at least
one site terminal operatively connected to said auction web site
system, each site terminal configured to record live bids from
multiple live bidders and able to communicate the details of said
live bids with said auction web site system auction software
components; wherein said site terminal is configured to record live
bids from a plurality of live bidders by recording at the time a
live bid is made by a live bidder, the amount of the live bid and a
live bidder identifier, to identify which of said multiple live
bidders made said live bid in a bid database and entered by an
independent operator at said site terminal; wherein online bids and
live bids are recorded by said auction software components in said
bid database in said web site system.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein up-to-date status information
of the auction is displayed to bidders by the Web site system.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein live bids and online bids are
recorded by the web site system in the order received.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one media
capture device operatively connected to said site terminal, wherein
the media input from said media capture device is transmitted by
said site terminal to said Web site system, where said Web site
system includes media broadcast components which will transmit said
media input from said media capture device to bidder computers.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said site terminal processes
said media input before transmitting same to said web site
system.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said media input is compressed
before transmission of same to said Web site system.
7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said web site system provides
up to date auction status information to an online bidder by
transmitting said information to the bidder computer of said online
bidder.
8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said web site system provides
up to date auction status information to live bidders by
transmitting said information to the site terminal.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each live bid or online bid is
time-stamped when received by said web site system.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein bids are accepted
chronologically in order of their time-stamps.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the web site system and the
site terminal are one computer.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the web site system and the
site terminal are separate computers.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the web site system is not
located at the auction location.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auction software
components comprise: a) a merchandise database containing
information pertaining to auction lots; b) said bid database
containing details of bids received from bidders with respect to
auction lots; c) an auction control system which during the conduct
of an auction will receive live bid details from the site terminal
and online bids from bidder computers and record the details of
said bids in the bid database; and which upon detection of an
auction-closing condition will accept no further bids and the
successful bidder will be determined based on accepted bids stored
in the bid database.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the auction-closing condition
is a manually initialed closing of an auction by an operator of
said Web site system.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the auction-closing condition
which is detected is a based on a preprogrammed formula which can
be automatically detected by the auction control system.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the auction-closing condition
which is detected is the passage of a predetermined amount of time
between the placement of bids.
18. A method of conducting an auction at an auction location
allowing the placement of online bids from online bidders as well
as the placement of live bids from live bidders present at the
auction location, said method comprising: a) providing an auction
web site system which can communicate with the bidder computers of
online bidders, said web site system including auction software
components capable of receiving and recording online bids and live
bids in respect of auction lots; b) providing a site terminal at
the auction location operatively connected to said web site system;
c) with respect to an auction lot, using said web site system and
site terminal to conduct an auction in the following steps: i)
accepting online bidders to transmit online bids from bidder
computers to said web site system; ii) allowing a plurality of live
bidders to place live bids at said site terminal of the auction
location, said live bids being associated with a unique bidder
number and transmitted from said site terminal to said web site
system, said live bids entered into said web site system at said
site terminal at said auction location by an independent second
entity; iii) recording each of said online bids and each of said
plurality of live bids entered on said site terminal at said
auction location received by the Web site system individually in a
database; iv) upon detection of an auction-closing condition,
ceasing the acceptance of any further bids by said web site
system.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising determining the
successful bidder after detection of the auction-closing
condition.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the conduct of the auction
further comprises displaying information pertaining to the auction
lot to online bidders at their bidder computers.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein bids are recorded in said web
site system in the order which they are received.
22. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing at least
one media capture device operatively connected to said site
terminal, and transmitting media input from said media capture
device from the site terminal to the Web site system, and then
broadcasting said media input from said Web site system to bidder
computers.
23. The method of claim 22 further comprising processing of the
media input from said media capture device by the site terminal in
advance of transmitting same to said Web site system.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the processing of the media
input from the site terminal includes compressing said media
input.
25. The method of claim 18 wherein the conduct of the auction
further comprises the step of displaying up to date auction status
information to all bidders.
26. The method of claim 18 wherein each live bid or online bid is
time-stamped when received by said Web site system.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein bids are accepted and processed
by the Web site system chronologically in order of their time
stamps.
28. A method of coordinating a live auction at a defined live
auction location with placement of online bids from online bidders
for a plurality of auction lots, said method comprising: a)
providing an auction web site system which can communicate with a
plurality of online bidding computers, said web site system
including auction software components capable of receiving and
recording online bids from said plurality of online bidder
computers in respect of said auction lots; b) providing a site
terminal at said defined live auction location, said site terminal
operatively connected to said web site system and able to integrate
a plurality of live auction bids into said auction web site system
from said single site terminal; c) said web site system and site
terminal conducting an auction in the following steps: (i)
accepting bids from said plurality of online bidder computers; (ii)
allowing live bidders to place live bids at said live auction
location, said live bids being transmitted from said site terminal
to said web site system, said live bids entered into said web site
system at said site terminal at said auction location by an
independent second entity; (iii) recording said online bids and
said plurality of live auction bids received by said web site
system in a database; (iv) differentiating said plurality of live
auction bids; and (v) upon detection of an auction-closing
condition, ceasing the acceptance of any further bids by said web
site system.
Description
[0001] This invention is in the field of auction systems, and more
particularly deals with a system and method for the conduct of an
auction at an auction site with bidders both in physical attendance
at the auction site as well as being present at the auction via an
Internet broadcast.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the e-commerce arena, there is a proliferation of online
auction sites. Most of these sites simply allow a bidder to post a
bid to an auction hosted on a Web site, which auction might either
be static in nature and run over an extended period of time, or in
certain circumstances may run on a shorter timeline and somewhat
more closely approximate the experience of a traditional auction
with an auctioneer. Traditional auctions with an auctioneer also
remain popular for both buyers and sellers insofar as equipment or
products auctioned often times receive increased prices, the
auction method as traditionally practiced is simple to use for
everyone and is adaptable to any industry.
[0003] One of the primary concerns of an auctioneer in preparing an
auction sale is to ensure as large a number of bidders in
attendance at the sale as possible, which will maximize the
potential of bids and increased returns on different lots in the
sale. Particularly in cases where the items being auctioned are
large or unwieldy to transport, such as agricultural or industrial
equipment, it is necessary for people interested in viewing and
bidding on that equipment to actually travel to the site of the
auction since the costs of transport of the equipment, generally
speaking, means that it is impractical to consolidate the equipment
elsewhere off of the previous location of that equipment. People
who are only interested or looking at one or two lots in a larger
sale may not be able to justify the cost of travel if the travel is
a long distance or to a remote location, to participate in such an
auction sale.
[0004] One alternative to travelling to such an auction sale is to
conduct the sale entirely online over the Internet or another
computer network or communications network, but in the case of a
traditional online auction the quality of the interaction between
the auctioneer and bidders in attendance at the sale in the
electronic format is diminished. Furthermore, it is difficult to
generate the same level of excitement in a static online auction
sale that is found in a fast-paced physical auction sale, in which
higher bids might be secured on various auction lots.
[0005] It would be preferable to provide a system and method for
the conduct of an auction which would allow for the attendance and
participation of bidders at the physical auction site as well as
other bidders who could not physically attend being able to
participate in an online format.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is the object of the present invention to overcome the
limitations of the prior art.
[0007] It is more specifically the object of the present invention
to provide a system and method for the conduct of an auction at an
auction site which would allow for placement of auction bids by
bidders in physical attendance at the auction site, as well as by
bidders in virtual presence at the auction by way of a connection
over the Internet.
[0008] It is the further object of the present invention to provide
a system allowing for the conduct of auctions with both live and
online bidders where it is not necessary to transport and install a
significant quantity of computer equipment at the auction site. It
is the further object of the present invention to provide such a
system which requires minimal network connectivity from the auction
site.
[0009] The present invention accomplishes these objectives in a
first embodiment being an apparatus for the conduct of an auction
from a physical location allowing for the participation of both
live bidders and online bidders, wherein a live bidder is a bidder
present at the auction site and an online bidder is a bidder who is
not present at the auction site, but who has computer access to the
auction sale, wherein the apparatus itself comprises an auction Web
site system which is able to communicate with the bidder computers
of online bidders and receive online bids, said Web site system
including software components for the handling of bids, and a site
terminal being located at the physical location of the auction
which is operatively connected to said Web site system, which site
terminal transmits the details of live bids placed by live bidders
in attendance at the physical location to the Web site system.
Online bids and live bids are all transmitted to the Web site
system by either bidder computers or the site terminal and are
recorded by the auction software components in the web site system.
This allows for both live bidders and online bidders to bid on the
same auction lot at the same time.
[0010] The auction software components of the Web site system of
the present invention would record bids in the Web site system in
the order they were received, which might be accomplished by the
assignment of either time stamp or sequence code to the bids upon
their receipt by said Web site system.
[0011] An auctioneer could be present at the live physical location
of the auction and participate in the auction, or alternatively
would not be necessary. It will be understood that both the
participation of an auctioneer or the running of an auction without
an auctioneer are contemplated within the scope of the present
invention. Insofar as the live bidder at the auction site would
likely not wish to be there for a long period of time, it will be
understood that the primary application of the apparatus of the
invention is what will be termed a "live" auction, with a bidding
session of a limited duration of time, versus a "static" auction,
such as those conducted on eBay.TM. or the like where the bidding
session might be stretched to a number of days. It will, however,
be understood that the apparatus of the present invention could
also be used with such a static auction and, as such, the
applicability thereof is also contemplated within the scope of the
present invention.
[0012] Where an auctioneer was participating in the auction or
where it was otherwise desirable to have online bidders be able to
actually view content from the auction site, such as pictures or
live content of the auction lot itself or the like, at least one
media capture device could be added at the site and could be
operatively connected to the site terminal. The media capture
device might be something such as a microphone to capture the feel
from an auctioneer's participation, or alternatively or
cumulatively also include a camera or the like to show pictures of
an auction lot or the auction site itself. The media input itself
from these media capture devices which are connected to the site
terminal would be transmitted by the site terminal to the Web site
system, and from the Web site system the media input would then be
streamed or broadcast out to the bidder computers for viewing
therein. While it is obviously the object of the present invention
to keep processing requirements at the actual auction location to a
minimum, the site terminal might partially process the media input
from the media capture devices in advance of transmitting same to
the Web site system. For example, compression might be applied or
other techniques used.
[0013] The apparatus of the present invention could be further
modified wherein the Web site system would provide up-to-date
auction status information to bidders as bids were recorded or
accepted. Auction status information might be provided to an online
bidder by transmitting that information to their bidder computer.
In the case of a live bidder present at the auction site, the
auction status information might be displayed to live bidders by
transmitting that information to site terminal for display,
announcement or other use.
[0014] In certain cases, the Web site system of the present
invention and the site terminal would be one computer, or in others
the Web site system and the site terminal could be separate
computers. The Web site system might either be located at the same
location as the auction location or, alternatively, could be
located in a centralized computing location away from the auction
site.
[0015] The auction software components of the Web site system of
the present invention might optimally comprise a merchandise
database containing information pertaining to auction lots, and a
bid database containing details of bids received from both online
and live bidders with respect to auction lots. An auction control
system which would control the actual process and acceptance of
bids would, during the conduct of an auction, receive live bid
details from the site terminal and online bids from bidder
computers, and record the details of both said live bids and online
bids in the bid database. Upon detection of an auction-closing
condition, the auction control system would accept no further bids
and the successful bidder could then either be determined manually
by an operator of said Web site system or alternatively could be
determined by the auction control system in the comparison of
successfully recorded bids from the bid database.
[0016] Also disclosed is a method of conducting an auction which
allows the placement of online bids from an online bidder as well
as the placement of live bids by live bidders present at an auction
location, said method comprising the steps of providing an auction
Web site system which can communicate with the bidder computers of
online bidders, said Web site system including auction software
components capable of receiving and recording online bids and live
bids in respect of auction lots, and providing a site terminal at
the auction location which is operatively connected to the Web site
system, the Web site system and site terminal used to conduct an
auction thereof by accepting online bids transmitted from bidder
computers to the Web site system, allowing live bidders to place
live bids at the auction location with the details of the live bids
then being entered into said site terminal for transmission to the
Web site system for recordal therein as live bids, recording bids
received from online and live bidders in the Web site system as
received, and upon detection of an auction-closing condition,
ceasing the acceptance of any further bids by said Web site
system.
[0017] This method might further comprise the step of displaying
up-to-date status information pertaining to an auction lot to
online bidders at their bidder computers or to live bidders via the
site terminal.
[0018] Media content such as audio/video could be captured at the
auction site and transmitted via the site terminal to the Web site
system from whence it could be broadcast to bidder computers
engaged in the bidding session.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions
hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying
detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction
with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a general architectural drawing of one embodiment
of the system of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 shows the component of the system of FIG. 1 in more
detail;
[0022] FIG. 3 demonstrates the flow of a typical series of auction
transactions through the system of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0023] FIGS. 4 to XX are sample Web pages which might be used in
the conduct of an auction in accordance with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] To facilitate a complete understanding of the invention, the
description of the preferred embodiments herein are arranged within
the following sections: [0025] 1. Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
[0026] 2. Overview of System Components and Operation [0027] 3.
Auction Software Components [0028] 4. Media Capture [0029] 5.
Communication Between Site Terminal and Auction Server [0030] 6.
Conclusion
Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
[0031] The following terms and acronyms are used throughout the
detailed description:
[0032] Client-Server. A model of interaction in a distributed
system in which a program at one site sends a request to a program
at another site and waits for a response. The requesting program is
called the "client," and the program which responds to the request
is called the "server." In the context of the World Wide Web
(discussed below), the client is a "Web browser" (or simply
"browser") which runs on a computer of a user; the program which
responds to browser requests by serving Web pages is commonly
referred to as a "Web server."
[0033] Internet. A collection of interconnected (public and/or
private) networks that are linked together by a set of standard
protocols (such as TCP/IP and HTTP) to form a global, distributed
network. (While this term is intended to refer to what is now
commonly known as the Internet, it is also intended to encompass
variations which may be made in the future, including changes and
additions to existing standard protocols.)
[0034] World Wide Web ("Web"). Used herein to refer generally to
both a distributed collection of interlinked, user-viewable
hypertext documents (commonly referred to as Web documents or Web
pages) that are accessible via the Internet, and the client and
server software components which provide user access to such
documents using standardized Internet protocols. Currently, the
primary standard protocol for allowing applications to locate and
acquire Web documents is HTTP, and the Web pages are encoded using
HTML. However, the terms "Web" and "World Wide Web" are intended to
encompass future markup languages and transport protocols which may
be used in place of (or in addition to) HTML and HTTP.
[0035] Web site. A computer system that serves informational
content over a network using the standard protocols of the World
Wide Web. Typically, a Web site corresponds to a particular
Internet domain name, such as abc.com," and includes the content
associated with a particular organization. As used herein, the term
is generally intended to encompass both the hardware/software
server components that serve the informational content over the
network, and the "back end" hardware/software components, including
any non-standard or specialized components, that interact with the
server components to perform services for Web site users.
[0036] HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol). The standard World Wide
Web client-server protocol used for the exchange of information
(such as HTML documents, and client requests for such documents)
between a browser and a Web server. HTTP includes a number of
different types of messages which can be sent from the client to
the server to request different types of server actions.
[0037] "HTML" (hypertext Mark-up Language). A standard coding
convention and set of codes for attaching presentation and linking
attributes to informational content within documents. During a
document authoring stage, the HTML codes are embedded within the
informational content of the document and when the Web document
(HTML document) is subsequently transferred from a Web server to a
browser, the codes are interpreted by the browser and used to parse
and display the document. In addition to specifying how the Web
browser is to display a document, HTML tags can also be used to
create links to other Web documents.
Overview of System Components and Operation
[0038] An inventive system and method is disclosed for conducting a
multi-bidder interactive auction allowing both the participation of
bidders online by computer connection, as well as allowing bidders
to actually attend at an auction site to view the merchandise lots
and/or to place live bids. Implemented in the combination of
software and hardware components outlined in more detail below, the
electronic auction system allows a group of live and online bidders
to interactively place bids which are communicated over a computer
communications network to an auction Web site system which
automatically records the bids and updates all of the bidders with
the current auction status information, closes the auction from
further bidding when appropriate and determines the successful
bidder.
[0039] Bidders who wish to access the auction and place bids from a
remote location away from the site of the auction, and who will
access the system by way of a computer connection, are referred to
as "online bidders" in the course of the remainder of this
description. A bid placed by an online bidder over the computer is
an "online bid". With respect to people who actually wish to attend
at the physical site of the auction, these are referred to as "live
bidders" throughout the remainder of the description hereof, and a
bid placed by a live bidder is a "live bid". A live bid might be
placed by a live bidder at the auction location either in the
traditional fashion of announcing or indication the bid to an
auctioneer, or alternatively the site terminal itself might be
equipped to allow live bidders wishing to attend at the auction
site to place a bid in a similar fashion to that of an online
bidder whereby a live bid would actually be a bid submitted from
the site terminal directly by a live bidder. Alternatively, where
bids were placed in a traditional fashion, such as indicating the
placement or acceptance of a bid to an auctioneer present at the
location of the auction, the auctioneer or an assistant might enter
the details of the live bids into the site terminal and transmit
them to the Web site system in that fashion.
[0040] The system and method of the present invention lends itself
particularly to the execution of a short term or real time auction,
emulating a traditional auction in which bidders are present in the
auction hall and an auctioneer induces bids from bidders in the
auction hall on a particular auction lot up for sale. While it is
not particularly contemplated that the method of the present
invention would be preferably practiced in a static online auction
format, such as that on eBay.TM. or the like, it will be understood
that a static auction format would also fall within the scope of
the claimed invention as well.
[0041] The system and method of the present invention employs a
client server methodology, both in terms of the communication of
online bidders via their bidder computers with the Web site system
of the present invention as well as with the site terminal which is
used to record and transmit the details of the live bids placed by
live bidders to the Web site system for recordal. Obviously, the
client server design of the Web site system of the present
invention allows bidders who can access said Web site system via a
bidder computer and browser and/or Internet connection, but it also
decreases the amount of electronic equipment and gear which must be
transported to and installed at the actual auction site if it is
desired to actually run the auction from the auction site rather
than from a remote server location. It would particularly be the
case that it would be desired to operate at least the visible
aspect of the auction process from the auction site where it was
desired to still run a quasi-traditional auction with an auctioneer
taking part in the auction to induce more bids.
[0042] The reduction of the equipment requirements and
communications overhead required at an auction site will expand the
reach of the system and method of the present invention. For
example, there might be a situation where it was desired to auction
a large number of pieces of unwieldy equipment which it would be
prohibitively expensive to move in advance of auction to a
traditional auction yard. The system of the present invention
allows for the set up of only a site terminal at the actual
physical location of the auction and an auctioneer could then
participate, or not as the case may be, in the auction from the
auction site where live bidders in physical attendance at the
auction site could view the lots for sale and place live bids
therefrom, while online bidders could place online bids with the
Web site system of the present invention by transmission of their
bids directly to the Web site system rather than to the site
terminal. The "back office" functions of the auction can still take
place at a central computing center where the Web site system of
the present invention is installed, but the outreach which is
provided to auctioneers employing this type of a system is
exponential insofar as in certain cases all that would be necessary
at an auction site would be a simple telephone line or the like to
establish an Internet connection between the site terminal and the
Web site system for communication of auction status information to
the site terminal regarding online bids received at the computing
center, as well as for the purpose of communication live bids back
to the central system.
[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates the general architecture of an auction
system in accordance with the present invention. It includes at
least one bidder computer (1), an auction Web site system (2), and
a site terminal (3). The site terminal (3) is located at the actual
auction site (4), whereas the auction Web site system (2) could be
physically domiciled at a remote computing site (5). It will be
understood that the location of the Web site system (2) and the
site terminal (3) at the same location or in different locations is
contemplated within the scope of the present invention. The site
terminal (3) is operatively connected in communication with said
Web site system (2). Similarly, the bidder computers (1) can also
communicate with the auction Web site system (2). In this
particular case, three bidder computers (1) are shown, but it will
be understood that any number of bidder computers (1) which could
be accommodated by the hardware capacity of the auction Web site
system (2) are contemplated within the scope of the present
invention. In association with the bidder computers (1) which are
illustrated therein, the bidder computers (1) insofar as they
communicate with the Web site (2) by the Internet (11) could be
connected by modem or any other available method of Internet
connection and it will be understood that the present invention is
intended to encompass all such methods of physical connection of
the bidder computer (1) to the Web site (2).
[0044] Furthermore, for the sake of illustration of the second half
of the bidding equation of this invention, three live bidders (6)
are shown who are in physical attendance at the auction site (4).
Again, it will be understood that in terms of the numbers of live
bidders (6) who could be accommodated at the auction site (4), that
will be limited only by the communication capacity of the site
terminal (3) to the auction Web site system (2), as well as the
practical capacity of the auction venue and/or the auctioneer
involved in the sale. It will be understood that in a situation
where a large number of live bidders (6) were anticipated at the
auction venue (4), additional site terminals (3) could be added to
provide for additional communication capacity with the central
auction Web site system (2) whether it be on or off site.
[0045] The bidder computers (1) are connected to the auction Web
site system (2) via the Internet (11). It will be understood that
the bidder computers (1) might be any type of a computing device
that would allow an online bidder to interactively browse Web sites
via a Web browser (12). For example, the bidder computer (1) might
be a personal computer running any one of the Microsoft Windows.TM.
operating systems. It will be understood that any types of
computing devices running other operating systems could also be
used as the bidder computer (1) so long as they were able to
connect to the Internet (11) to establish communications with the
auction Web site system (2) and transmit online bids thereto. It
will be understood that all such other capable devices are
contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
[0046] The site terminal (3) is a adapted to communicate with the
Web site system (2) as well. The site terminal (3) might
communicate with the auction Web site system (2) also over the
Internet (11), or by some type of a private or proprietary network
connection. As shown here, the site terminal (3) and the Web site
system (2) are physically separated at two different locations. It
will also be understood that the site terminal (3) and the Web site
system (2) might be domiciled in the same physical location, in the
situation where the entire system of the present invention was
installed in a permanent auction venue or the like, and it will
also be understood that in such a case where the site terminal (3)
and the site of the auction (4) are in the same place as the Web
site system (2), the Web site system (2) and the site terminal (3)
might actually be combined into the same set of computing hardware.
While separate hardware is demonstrated in these figures, it will
be understood that this combination of the hardware into a single
unit is also contemplated within the scope of the present
invention.
[0047] The link between the Web site system (2) and the bidder
computer (1) does not have to be a physical link--it can, for
example, be a link via a modem, some type of a radio connection or
any other link. An online bid could be submitted from any one of
the bidder computers (1).
[0048] The Web site system depicted in FIG. 1 may be embodied in
hardware specifically provided to implement the present invention
or alternatively the system may be implemented using the
infrastructure that already exists in a particular company or for a
particular user. It is particularly contemplated that the server
(10) of the Web site system (2), and the bidder computer (1) and
site terminal (3), might be a server computer and client computers
operatively connected by the Internet. The hardware and
communications links of these systems might be used as an
infrastructure for the practice of the present invention. Changes
to the existing central server computers (10) to incorporate the
subject invention may be accomplished in various ways, such as
programming an existing central file server computer or by adding
an additional central file server computer (with or without a CPU
entirely dedicated to the processing of bid information).
Alternatively, the subject invention may be implemented using
existing hardware entirely, making appropriate software
updates.
[0049] It is necessary to yet again stress the versatility of the
present system which is provided by centralizing the majority of
the accounting and information functions of the conduct of a
combined online and live auction in the Web site system (2) of the
present invention, with the site terminal (3) and/or the bidder
computers (1) potentially simply operatively connected to the Web
site system (2) via the Internet. In particular, the server (10) of
the Web site system (2) might communicate with the site terminal
(3) by way of a modem, network connection or some other method or
apparatus allowing for the transmission or receipt of data between
the central server (10) and an external device. While the
illustrated embodiment here uses a wireless network connection over
the Internet to communicate between the site terminal (3) and the
server (10)/Web site system (2), it should be understood that other
method of communication could be used instead. These other methods
include hardwired connections, radio communications, optical
communications and the like, and it will be understood that all
such method of communication between the site terminal (3) and the
Web site system (2) and its server (10), regardless of
communication protocol, are contemplated within the scope of the
present invention.
[0050] As outlined above, in this particular case, the
communications link between the site terminal (3) and the Web site
system (2) and its server (10) is by way of a wireless Internet
connection. The use of such a connection allows for the conduct of
an auction of the present invention at virtually any location to
which such a wireless or radio communications link can be
established, since depending upon the period of time involved in
the conduct of the auction the actual site terminal (3) might even
be a battery powered portable computer. An auctioneer who used the
system of the present invention could feasibly conduct an auction
with online and live bidders in any location to which the necessary
communications link could be established and to which the requisite
power requirements could be satisfied for the minimal amount of
hardware on site, ie. the site terminal (3). In the case of a local
auction company, for example, agricultural auctions could be held
in various farm locations so long as a wireless connection could be
established back to the central office of the auction company where
the Web site system (2) and its server (10) were domiciled. To
stretch this further, an auctioneer could feasibly run a physical
and/or online auction at an auction site anywhere in the world so
long as there was the ability to connect to the Internet and
establish a link back to the Web site system (2).
[0051] The centralization of computing functions in this auction
format also results in a decreased amount of communications
bandwidth required between the site terminal (3) and the Web site
system (2). This allows for the use of the system of the present
invention even in areas where only a slower speed communications
link could be established.
[0052] There is also shown in FIG. 1 an auction lot (23) itself at
the auction location (4) which in this case and in this
illustration is a car.
[0053] FIG. 2 demonstrates the details of the computers of the
present system and embodiment in more detail. The Web site system
(2) includes, in terms of hardware, a server (10). The server (10)
will be capable of executing various program instructions and
operating various software components required in the operation of
the system and method of the present invention. The auction Web
site system (2) will interface with a bidder computer(s) (1) by way
of a bidder Web browser (12). Software components (16) within the
server (10) are capable of serving content to the Web browser (12)
from a repository of HTML documents (13) or the like contained
within the storage area of the server (10). For example, an online
bidder from their Web browser (12) could send a request to the Web
site system (2) to view information with respect to a particular
auction lot and/or to place a bid thereon, and the server (10)
could interpret that request and by way of its software components
(16) retrieve information from its HTML document repository (13)
and serve same information back to the Web browser (12) on the
bidder computer (1). The basic client server operation of a Web
server (10) and Web browser (12) will be understood to one skilled
in the art, and all such basic variations thereon are contemplated
within the scope of the present invention.
[0054] Contained within the memory of the server (10), accessible
to computer software components (16) executed thereon, is a
merchandise database (14) which contains information pertaining to
various auction lots (23) to be auctioned off for sale. Various
types of information might be stored with respect to different
auction lots (23), including descriptive information for the use of
bidders as well as other information such as pricing or bidding
parameters to be used internally by the system (2).
[0055] The auction Web site system (2) would also include a bid
database (15) in which would be stored the particulars of bids
received from various bidders in respect of auctions of auction
lots (23) from the database (14). As in the case of the merchandise
database (14), it will be understood that the bid database (15)
could also contain additional information to extend the
functionality of the system of the present invention, but the
baseline requirements for the proper operation of the system could
be to store the bid amount, an indication of the auction lot in
respect of which the bid is placed, as well as identification of
the bidder placing the bid.
[0056] Where the site terminal (3) was also connected via the
Internet (11) to the Web site system (2) and its associated server
(10), the site terminal (3) might also employ a Web browser (24) to
interact with the server (10). Again, documents from the document
repository (13) of the server (10) could be served to the terminal
browser (24) upon request thereby and those documents from the
repository (13) might include various data entry forms by way of
which an operator of the site terminal (3) could provide
information or bid details back to the Web site system (2). The
terminal browser (24) transmits the details of live bids from the
auction site (4) to the Web site system (2).
[0057] In operation, an online bidder (7) could access the auction
Web site system (2) using a standard Web browser (12), using a
protocol such as HTTP to communicate with the Web server (10) of
the Web site system (2). Through the auction Web site system (2)
and the associated Web server (10), the online bidder (7) is able
to transact business and place bids with the system (2). The
customer might also choose to or be able to view descriptive
information from the merchandise database (14) about various
merchandise lots (23), and at the heart of the invention can
participate in auctions of various merchandise lots (23) of which
information is stored in the merchandise database (14) by being
able to place online bids (9) in respect thereof. An online bidder
(7) can, through their Web browser (12) and their bidder computer
(1), place online bids (9) on a lot or lots (23) up for auction and
potentially purchase such auction lots (23) if they are the
successful bidder in such an auction.
[0058] During an auction bidding session in respect of a
merchandise lot (23), they might view up-to-date status information
of the auction in their browser (12) by requesting that information
from the server (10) which would serve it from its HTML document
repository (13). When the online bidder sees an opportunity at
which they would like to place a bid they could, through a form on
the HTML document that they were viewing, enter the particulars of
their bid and transmit that to the Web site system (2) for recordal
in the bid database (15). FIG. 4 demonstrates one type of a screen
display which might take place in the course of an auction wherein
an online bidder was placing a bid on an auction lot. The sample
HTML page (20) which would be viewed in a bidder browser shows in
this case details pertaining to the particular auction lot in
question from the merchandise database (14). These details are
shown at (21). The system shown in the sample document (20)
includes both a series of predetermined bid increments in one frame
at the bottom of the screen (22), from which an online bidder could
select a bid amount, or alternatively there is shown in another
frame (23) an area in which a bid could be entered and transmitted
to the server (10) by clicking on the place bid button or hyperlink
shown on that screen which would result in the communication of the
contents of the form fields on the page (20) back to the server
(10) for further processing by the auction software (16). It will
be understood that many different varieties of interfaces between
the browser (12) and the server (10), and many different HTML
templates or the like could be contemplated, and in fact the
options are almost limitless, and that all such presentations of
similar information are contemplated within the scope of the
present invention. Also shown in FIG. 4 at (24), is another frame
in which live video from the auction site (4) can be played, if
captured by a camera (18) on site. This will be discussed in more
detail below.
[0059] A screen such as the one shown in FIG. 4 also shows, in its
top corner at (25), the status of the auction insofar as all of the
bids being placed. It can be seen that an on-site bidder (aka. a
live bidder) has placed the last bid at the amount of $7,300. The
server (10) could be programmed to automatically refresh the HTML
page (20) in predetermined time increments, or alternatively it can
be seen that there are several hyperlinks displayed on the page,
shown at (26), which would initiate manual refreshing of a
document.
[0060] Having outlined the method of participation by an online
bidder (7) in an auction in accordance with the present invention,
it is also necessary to review the method of participation of the
live bidders (6) who are in physical attendance at the auction site
(4). A live bidder (6) could place a conventional live bid (8) with
respect to an ongoing auction by announcing or confirming the
details of such a live bid (8) to an operator of the auction at the
auction site (4). The details of live bids (8) received from live
bidders (6) present at the auction site (4) would be communicated
to the auction Web site system (2) via their data entry at the site
terminal (3). As outlined above, the communication between the site
terminal (3) and the auction Web site system (2)/server (10) might
also consist of data entry forms from the HTML document repository
(13) on the server (10) which would allow for the submission of
information, namely details of live bids (8) to the auction Web
site system (2) and the server (10), where such data would be
stored into the bid database (15) along with the details of online
bids (9) which had also been received in respect of the same
auction lot (23).
[0061] It is specifically contemplated that a live auctioneer might
also be engaged in the auction of an auction lot (23) and would in
their personal presence be able to induce the placement of live
bids (8) by live bidders (6) present at the auction site (4). The
broadcast or webcast of the audio or video of the auctioneer from
the auction site (4) to the online bidders (7), by capturing such
multimedia content and transmitting same from the site terminal (3)
to the server (10) where it in turn can be broadcast to the bidder
computers (1), is outlined in more detail below.
[0062] FIG. 5 shows one example of an HTML form which might be used
in the browser (24) of a site terminal (3) to allow an operator to
enter details of live bids received at the site (4). Again, in a
situation where the site terminal (3) communicated with the Web
site system (2) by way of a browser (24), an HTML form or screen
similar to that in FIG. 4 used for online bids might be used. In
this particular case of FIG. 5, there is shown as sample screen or
type of information which might be submitted from the site terminal
(3) to the Web site system (2) in logging live bids. The screen
(27) again shows identifying data from the merchandise database
regarding the lot currently being auctioned, shown at (28). It will
be understood that the lot number or lot identification information
might be automatically refreshed to the screen of the site terminal
(3) as the auction progresses, or alternatively the data entry of
live bids at the site terminal (3)/browser (24) might include also
supplying the bid and lot number or identification to which the bid
entered is to be applied. Also shown are data entry fields (29) in
which the details of the on-site bid can be entered and then a link
(30) is shown, the activation of which transmits the content of
this type of a form back to the Web site (2). Again, as in the case
of the online bid screen of FIG. 4, it will be understood that
virtually infinite variations on an on-site bid entry screen are
interfaced with the Web site (2) way of a browser (24) could be
contemplated and that all are contemplated within the scope of the
present invention. Also shown in the form (27) is a field (31)
which displays the current high bid. This could be used by the
auctioneer or live bidders in attendance at the auction site in
assessing or placing bids.
[0063] Upon recordal of bids (8) and (9) in the bid database (15),
the server (10) would provide revised or up-to-date auction status
information and pricing to all online bidders (7) or live bidders
(6) engaged in the auction. The up-to-date status information would
be communicated to online bidders (7) by refreshing or updating the
display (20) within the online bidders' Web browsers (12). With
respect to live bidders (6), the up-to-date pricing or status
information could be communicated back to the site terminal (3) or
the browser (24) therein for display or announcement to live
bidders (6) in attendance at the auction site (4).
[0064] The system of the present invention could be programmed to
monitor the conditions of the sale to detect an auction-closing
condition. The auction-closing conditions, which would be the
trigger to close the auction of a particular lot (23), might be
either a manual trigger by an operator at either the site terminal
(3) or the Web site server (10), or alternatively the
auction-closing condition might be a calculation or condition based
on other circumstances of the sale, such as or including, but not
limited to, the passage of a certain amount of time between
placement of bids, or the like. It will be understood that any
particular type of auction-closing condition which could be
detected by the server (10) is contemplated within the scope of the
present invention. Upon detection of an auction-closing condition,
the server (10) would accept no further bids (8) and (9) and the
successful bidder could be determined with respect to the lot (23)
being auctioned, based on the relevant bids which had been stored
in the bid database (15). The winning bid could be selected
manually by an operator of the Web site system (2) or the site
terminal (3), or alternatively could be automatically be selected
by the Web site (2) and communicated to bidders at the site
terminal (3) and bidder computers (1).
[0065] The following sections outline in more detail some of the
various embodiments of functions which might be used in conjunction
with the present invention.
Auction Software Components
[0066] The server (10) of the Web site system (2) has a series of
software components therein for the operation of an auction sale.
Many software components are already available for the management
or auction sales or the management of bidding during an auction
sale. The modification of these software components and the
supporting hardware to accept bids from both live and online
bidders (6) and (7) is at the heart of the invention.
[0067] The software components in a typical auction system might
include a merchandise management component (19) which is
operatively connected to an manages a merchandise database (14)
which contains information pertaining to auction lots (23), as well
as a bid management system (20) which will access a bid database
(15) and store details of bids received by the system therein.
There might also be included an auction control component (21)
which is actually responsible for receiving bids transmitted from
bidders and forwarding them to the bid management system (20) for
recordal in the bid database (15), as well as which might provide
the up-to-date status information back to bidders involved in the
auction and/or monitor the auction for the occurrence of an
auction-closing event. Insofar as many various types of software
components could be used, it will be understood that all such
variations are contemplated within the scope hereof.
[0068] As outlined in the general summary section above, the
merchandise database (14) might contain both publicly and
externally accessible information regarding various merchandise
lots (23) for sale, which information could be viewed or accessed
by online bidders (7) from their computers (1), or by a live bidder
(6) either by way of a browser (24) on the site terminal (3) or the
information could be physically communicated to live bidders (6) at
the auction site (4) by an operator of the site terminal (3). The
database (14) might also include internal information used in the
pricing or conduct of an auction of the particular merchandise lot
(23) to which it pertains. It will be understood that the type of
information which can be stored in the merchandise database (14) is
limited solely by the data structure thereof and that all such data
structures are contemplated within the scope of the present
invention.
[0069] The level of detail of information stored in the merchandise
database (14) might vary. In a bare situation, the merchandise
database (14) may contain only skeletal information for the use of
the system (2) in the conduct of auction sales. Alternatively,
where information from the merchandise database (14) is going to be
made available to either online or live bidders, (7) and (6)
respectively, for review in the course of an auction the database
(14) might contain more detailed publicly available information
such as specifications or details of lots (23) stored therein.
[0070] The Web server (10) of the auction Web site system (2) of
the present invention would include software components (16) which
would carry out the administration and operation of the system. The
first element of the software components (16) would be a
merchandise management component (19) which would be responsible
for the upkeep of the records of merchandise lots (23) stored in
the merchandise database (14). As summarily outlined above, the
system (2) includes a merchandise database (14), each record of
which would correspond to a merchandise lot (23) which was to be
auctioned using the Web site system (2) of the present invention.
The merchandise database (14) is stored in the memory of the server
(10) and the merchandise management component (19) could be any
software component capable of accessing and managing or
administering the merchandise database (14).
[0071] It will be understood that the database structure of the
merchandise database (14) could be any type of a database or file
structure which could be administered by a software component (19)
within the Web server (10), and that all types of data structures
are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
[0072] The merchandise management component (19) would have several
functions. The first function of the merchandise management
component (19) would be to maintain any changes made to records in
the merchandise database (14) as a result of or during auctions
conducted by the remainder of the system (2). As well, the
merchandise maintenance component (19) could be responsible for
serving information from the merchandise database (14) either to
other software components within the system (2) or to a browser
(12) of a bidder in a bidder computer (1). While beyond the
immediate scope of the present invention, it will be understood
that the merchandise management component software (19) could also
allow for administration and adding or deleting lots to or form the
database (14), or archiving information therefrom upon completion
of various auction sales.
[0073] The merchandise management component (19) would interface
with the bid management component (20), outlined in more detail
below, as well as the auction control component (21) of the system
(2), which is also discussed in more detail below, insofar as the
auction control component (21) needs to access up-to-date lot
information from the merchandise database (14), and bids likely
need to be referenced to a record in the merchandise database (14)
when written to the bid database (15).
[0074] The next software component of the computer software (16)
within the server (10) would be the bid management component (20).
The bid management component (20) would be present in the software
(16) in the server (10) and would be responsible for the management
or administration of a bid database (15).
[0075] The bid database (15) would be used to record various bids
received from either online bidders (7) or live bidders (6) at the
Web site system (2) with respect to auctions of various auction
lots (23). The bids which are recorded in the bid database (15)
could then be reviewed by a software component upon completion of
an auction to determine the winning bid. Storage of the bidding
files for later historical analysis of the bidding patterns in a
particular auction, or even for security purpose to review who made
which bids when, is also contemplated herein.
[0076] It will be understood that the type of information which
would be recorded in the bid database (15) with respect to bids
placed by bidders in an auction sale could again vary in levels of
complexity. Likely, the basic information which would need to be
stored would be the bid price, as well as an identifier or
identification of the bidder placing the bid which might be linked
to a bidder database, as well as an identifier of the articular
auction lot (23) within the merchandise database (14) upon which
the bid was placed. Other data checking fields in the data
structure of the bid database (15) might include date and time of
bids, validation or processing flags or the like. It will be
understood that the bid maintenance component (20) is responsible
for the maintenance of the bid database (15).
[0077] As in the case of other databases contemplated within the
scope of the present invention, the bid database (15) would, in a
preferred embodiment, be a database structure containing a
plurality of records, each record corresponding to a bid placed by
a bidder with respect to a merchandise lot (23). It will be
understood that the structure of the database (15) could actually
be any type of a database or other file structure which is
accessible to the system and software components within the server
(10). Summarily, the bid database management component (20) could
be any software component capable of accessing and administering
the particular database structure chosen for the bid database
(15).
[0078] In addition to the requirement to maintain information
pertaining to auction lots (23) to be auctioned for sale, as well
as to maintain complete information pertaining to bids received
from bidders on auction lots (23) when offered for sale, the next
auction software component which needs to be examined briefly is
the auction control component itself. It would be necessary to have
an auction control component (21) installed within or operatively
connected to the server (10) as well, which auction control
component (21) would be capable of coordinating the conduct of an
information recordal during an actual auction of an auction lot
(23).
[0079] The auction control component (21) could be any software
component installed on or operatively engaged with the server (10)
which is capable of receiving details of bids transmitted either
from the bidder computers (1) of online bidders (7), or
alternatively from a site terminal (3) with respect to live bids
placed by live bidders (6) at the auction venue (4), and shuttling
those details to be recorded in the bid database (15) in the proper
order and fashion.
[0080] The auction control component (21) would also be responsible
for the communication of up-to-date auction pricing and status
information to all bidders, as required.
[0081] It will be understood that any software component capable of
performing these duties is contemplated within the scope of the
present invention.
[0082] FIG. 3 demonstrates the transaction flow in an auction of a
lot (23) by the system of the present invention. An online bidder
who wishes to access the auction send a request (3A) from their
browser (12) to the Web site (2) to receive status information or a
bid entry form from the server (10). The server (10) serves or
sends back the requested information from its HTML document
repository (13), which is shown at Step 3B. Shown at 3C, the server
(10) will communicate up-to-date status information to the browser
(24) of the site terminal (3).
[0083] In the case where the next action in the auction is the
placement of an online bid by an online bidder, the online bidder
could enter the particulars of their online bid in the HTML form
and send their bid, as an HTTP post, back to the server (10). This
is shown in Step 3D. The server (10), upon receipt of the online
bid details 3D, will be the auction software (16) record the
details of an online bid in the bid database (15). This is shown at
Step 3E. Steps 3B and 3C might then be repeated, namely to refresh
the auction status and bid level with respect to the auction lot to
the bidders accessing the bidding session. If a live bidder next
wished to place a bid, they would make their bid at the auction
site (4) and an operator of the site terminal (3) would send the
details of the live bid to the server (10). This is shown at Step
3F. Again, Step 3E would be repeated, namely to record the details
of this bid to the bid database (15). The acceptance of online bids
in this fashion would continue until the auction-closing condition
was detected.
[0084] The auction software components contained in the server (10)
would also be responsible for closing the auction upon detection of
the auction-closing condition. As outlined in more detail above, an
auction might be closed by manual triggering of the close of the
auction from either the location of the site terminal (3) or the
server (10), or in the alternative to a manual trigger, the auction
closing condition might be a preprogrammed condition related to
time passing between bids or some other calculation, and it will be
understood that any such preprogrammed detection condition is also
contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Media Capture
[0085] It is specifically contemplated that the system and method
of the present invention might lend themselves to use in a hybrid
auction format combining online bidding with the format of a
traditional auction including an auctioneer at an auction site (4).
The experience of being in attendance at the auction site (4) can
be communicated to online bidders (7) at their bidder computers (1)
by capturing various media input such as audio or video footage at
the auction venue (4) and transmitting that to the browsers (12) of
the bidder computers (1).
[0086] It is specifically contemplated that at least one media
capture device, such as a microphone or video camera, could be used
at the site venue (4) and could be operatively connected to the
site terminal (3). Software components in the site terminal (3)
could include the necessary software to transmit the input from the
one or more media capture devices at the auction venue (4) from the
site terminal (3) to the server (10) of the Web site system (2),
and additional software components within the Web site server (10)
could then redistribute or broadcast that content to the bidder
computers (1) which could be modified with the necessary software
components or plug-ins in the browser (12) to receive this
information.
[0087] It is specifically contemplated that the media capture
device(s) used at the location (4) might include audio microphones
or video cameras or the like, to provide audio and video coverage
of the actual auction taking place at the venue (4) to online
bidders (7) at their bidder computers (1).
[0088] By simply capturing the audio or video content at the
auction location (4) and transmitting it from the site terminal (3)
to the server (10) for distribution to the bidder computers (1),
the processor intensive task of streaming or serving that content
to the bidder computers (1) is consolidated at the server (10)
rather than requiring additional processing overhead at the site
terminal (3). This is in keeping with the intention of the present
invention to keep the equipment requirements at the auction site
(4) at a minimum.
[0089] The site terminal (3) might be adapted to process the input
from the media capture devices, ie. microphones or cameras, in
advance of transmission of same to the server (10). For example,
the site terminal (3) might have software components installed
therein which would compress the signals or input from the media
capture devices before transmitting same to the server (10) of the
Web site system (2), which would decrease the bandwidth
requirements of the connection between the site terminal (3) and
the server (10).
[0090] In the case of audio or video data being captured at the
auction location (4) for eventual transmission to the bidder
computers (1), the server (10) might be adapted with the necessary
hardware and/or software components to use streaming technology or
some other method of broadcasting of such content to bidder
computers (1), and then the browser (12) in the bidder computer (1)
must simply have the proper plug-in or software components added
thereto in order to view or receive this information. For example,
in the case where a bidder computer (1) was a Microsoft Windows.TM.
computer operating the Internet Explorer.TM. web browser, by
installation of an audio or video plug-in, an online bidder (7)
would be able to hear the auctioneer at the auction location at
their bidder computer (1).
[0091] It will be understood that the provision of both audio and
video by use of more than one media capture device would provide
the best simulated hybrid auction experience for online bidders
(7), but it will also be understood that either video, audio or
some other media capture device could be used and that the
provision of only one media stream is also contemplated within the
scope of the present invention. In certain circumstances, one media
capture device might be able to capture both audio and video and
that might be able to be broadcast to bidder computers (1) via the
site terminal (3) and the server (10), as a single media stream. It
will again be understood that all such variations are contemplated
within the scope hereof.
Communication Between the Site Terminal and the Server
[0092] As outlined in detail herein, one of the primary objectives
of the present invention is to allow for the operation of a hybrid
auction sale wherein a traditional live auction could be held, and
online bidders could participate as well as live bidders at the
auction site. In order to maximize the attraction of this type of
an auction method, it is necessary to minimize the site
requirements at the auction site (4) by requiring as little
hardware as possible to be installed therein. It is specifically
contemplated that the site terminal (3) could be connected to the
remainder of the Web site system (2) and its server (10) either by
way of a wired connection or a modem connection, or alternative as
a wireless connection. The protocol used to communicate between a
site terminal (3) and the Web site system (2) might be TCPIP or
another Internet protocol, or some type of an internal or
proprietary networking protocol might alternatively be used, and it
will be understood that the concept of the present invention
applies equally to any type of a communications link between the
Web site system (2) and the site terminal (3) regardless of the
hardware or communications protocols employed.
CONCLUSION
[0093] While the invention has been described herein with reference
to certain preferred embodiments, these embodiments have been
presented by way of example only, and not to limit the scope of the
invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be
defined only in accordance with the claims that follow. In the
following claims, reference characters used to designate claim
steps are provided for convenience of description only, and are not
intended to imply any particular order for performing the
steps.
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